Clayton, Amanda, Jennifer Noveck, and Margaret Levi. "When Elites Meet: Decentralization, Power-Sharing, And Public Goods Provision in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone." World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 7335(2015).

Clayton, Noveck and Levi argue that decentralization is key for development and good governance. However, the process of decentralization can cause tension as new elites attempt to take up governing spaces that have long been occupied by traditional patrons. This is because decentralization creates new avenues to accumulate political power and promote development. It empowers new local authorities in the area of traditional governance. The study examined how decentralization process shapes power relations among different sets of local actors by exploring power-sharing dynamics between traditional hereditary chiefs and newly elected community councilors in post-colonial Sierra Leone. The study also examines how this dynamic affects the provision of local public goods. These actors, comprising newly elected elites have to work with the preexisting systems of local governance leading to potential conflicts between new and traditional elites. The authors conclude that this conflict between the new and old elites can also be viewed as inter-elite competition that could result in improvements of local development outcomes whereas inter-elite collusion can be detrimental for development as it can affect the provision of local public goods.

‍

Clayton, Amanda and Noveck, Jennifer and Levi, Margaret, When Elites Meet: Decentralization, Power-Sharing, and Public Goods Provision in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone (June 24, 2015). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 7335, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2622813

In the past decade, decentralization of governance has been promoted as a means of achieving good governance. This study, using post-conflict Sierra Leone as a case, explores power dynamics between traditional hereditary chiefs and newly elected community councillors in the provision of local public goods. The research reveals that when relationships between councillors and chiefs are competitive, it leads to better local development outcomes and higher public goods provision. On the other hand, relationships characterized by cooperation or familial ties result in poorer local development outcomes. In essence, competition among elite groups is found to be beneficial for local development, while collaboration between old and new elites hinders the provision of public goods.

Source: Culled from article's abstract

Cle Ice Queen

Musician (Rap, Hip Hop, Afro pop, Dancehall) and Television Personality

Zambia

cleoicequeen.com

CNN. “African Designers Shake Up the Fashion Industry.” July 2, 2020. Video, 22:56. https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2021/07/02/nkwo-onwuka-dakala-nigeria-rich-mnisi-pride-fashion-south-africa-spc.cnn

Nkwo Onwuka experiments with sustainable textiles in Nigeria. In South Africa, Rich Mnisi creates inclusive designs that celebrate his heritage and LGBTQ+pride.

[Source: Video description].

CNN. “Art All Across Africa.” Filmed in March2020 as part of the program “Africa Avant-Garde”. Video, 23:06. https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2020/03/27/contemporary-art-africa-avant-garde.cnn/video/playlists/africa-avant-garde/

In this month’s Africa Avant-Garde, CNN crosses the continent to meet some of the key people behind the resurgent contemporary art scene.

[Source: Video description].

Cochrane, Laura. Religious Networks and Small Businesses in Senegal. Economic Anthropology. Volume, 8. Issue, 1. Pages, 22-33. August 24, 2020.

Senegalese religious groups have a history of relying on their networks to navigate external challenges, including colonialism, drought, and economic hardships. In contemporary times, these religious networks often leverage small businesses for economic sustenance. Based on ethnographic research in central Senegal, this article contends that robust religious networks and the practice of Islamic principles of social welfare serve as both the method for achieving and the objective of economic stability. Economic prosperity becomes a means for business owners to provide for their families and bolster local economies, thereby facilitating the ability of individuals to lead a religious life within a supportive community.

Source: Article's abstract

Cocodia, Jude. Peacekeeping and the African Union: Building Negative Peace. Routledge, 2018.

This book offers a detailed examination of the effectiveness of the peacekeeping operations of the African Union. Despite its growing reputation in peacekeeping and its status as the oldest continental peacekeeper, the performance of the African Union (AU) has hitherto not been assessed. This book fills that gap and analyses six case studies: Burundi, Comoros, Somalia, Mali, Darfur and the Central African Republic. From a methodological perspective it takes a problem-solving approach and utilizes process tracing in its analysis, with its standard for success resting on achieving negative peace (the cessation of violence and provision of security). Theoretically, this study offers a comprehensive list of factors drawn from peace literature and field experience which influence the outcome of peacekeeping. Beyond the major issues, such as funding, international collaboration and mandate, this work also examines the impact of largely ignored factors such as force integrity and territory size. The book modifies the claim of peace literature on what matters for success and advocates the indispensability of domestic elite cooperation, local initiative and international political will. It recognizes the necessity of factors such as lead state and force integrity for certain peace operations. In bringing these factors together, this study expands the peacekeeping debate on what matters for stability in conflict areas.

Source: book description culled from Routledge.com

CODESRIA

Research Organization

Dakar, Senegal

codesria.org

Description:

The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) is an independent, pan-African, non-governmental research organisation founded in 1973 by African researchers.

Its establishment was driven by a desire to build an autonomous Pan-African scientific community capable of interpreting realities in Africa and contributing to scholarly, public and policy debates on African and global issues. Research and knowledge production are key to Africa’s transformation. The participation of Africans in these activities is indispensable for shaping narratives that will benefit Africa and its peoples.

CODESRIA, therefore, is about building a strong and vibrant African social science and humanities research community. It serves to mobilise a greater understanding of the challenges facing Africa and the world in order to overcome these challenges. To do so, CODESRIA facilitates and supports social science and humanities research by scholars in Africa and the African diaspora across the world through a variety of programmes. CODESRIA is headquartered in Dakar, Senegal and is accredited with diplomatic status in Senegal, a status that grants various immunities to support effective intellectual engagement.